Alphabet Soup: the NASL/USL/CPL/NISA/PDL/NPSL/UPSL/NCAA Soccer Thread

[InstaFace]

Including Hartford in the "rust belt"? I'd watch your back around these parts.

I'll note that in that article, Raleigh is the #2 fastest-growing (at +11.7% in 2015-2020, and is still a pretty substantial drive from Charlotte), Phoenix is #3 (+10.5%), Tampa-StP is #10 (+8.7%), Las Vegas is #5 (+10.4%)... and Indianapolis is #19 at +5.2%

 

[67YAZ]

Including Hartford in the "rust belt"? I'd watch your back around these parts.

I'll note that in that article, Raleigh is the #2 fastest-growing (at +11.7% in 2015-2020, and is still a pretty substantial drive from Charlotte), Phoenix is #3 (+10.5%), Tampa-StP is #10 (+8.7%), Las Vegas is #5 (+10.4%)... and Indianapolis is #19 at +5.2%

My bad! It's been a whole 5 years since the Insurance Capital of the World took a state bailout instead of filing chapter 9. No Rust Belt city would ever...

 

[nayrbrey]

Rhode Island revealed their colors and crest today. Looks sharp with the blue and yellow (they’re calling it Amber)

https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1247524

They should have good support and a great rivalry with Hartford.

 

[Titans Bastard]

I like that logo. Too bad about the boring name. I'll try to check out a game when they start in 2024.

 

[Zososoxfan]

Rhode Island revealed their colors and crest today. Looks sharp with the blue and yellow (they’re calling it Amber)

https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1247524

They should have good support and a great rivalry with Hartford.
View attachment 57623

I give that crest 9/10. Sharp colors, simple classic club name, homage to the State's marine history, integrating the logo with geographic letters--all good. The only part it fails is that the bottom of the anchor (i.e., the hooks) are a little too complex. The announcement says these are lightning bolts to represent the 'modernization of the crest' (paraphrasing). That's...not what I'd call it, to put it mildly.

I once heard/read that a child should be able to draw the logo, and I thought that's a good rule of thumb. I think/hope (?) that may have been a comment by our own @dirtynine . I feel like you could take off the extra frippery on the 'hooks' and make it true to the goals stated in the announcement. However, I will say that the bolts DO make the negative space below look like a superhero mask, which is totally sweet. But the only problem with that is that really doesn't have anything obviously to do with the club or crest. But if the supporters latch onto it and make them into masks, well then you have a #marketingmerchwin.

 

[dirtynine]

I give that crest 9/10. Sharp colors, simple classic club name, homage to the State's marine history, integrating the logo with geographic letters--all good. The only part it fails is that the bottom of the anchor (i.e., the hooks) are a little too complex. The announcement says these are lightning bolts to represent the 'modernization of the crest' (paraphrasing). That's...not what I'd call it, to put it mildly.

I once heard/read that a child should be able to draw the logo, and I thought that's a good rule of thumb. I think/hope (?) that may have been a comment by our own @dirtynine . I feel like you could take off the extra frippery on the 'hooks' and make it true to the goals stated in the announcement. However, I will say that the bolts DO make the negative space below look like a superhero mask, which is totally sweet. But the only problem with that is that really doesn't have anything obviously to do with the club or crest. But if the supporters latch onto it and make them into masks, well then you have a #marketingmerchwin.

I probably mentioned, and certainly favor, the "child should be able to draw a logo from memory" sentiment - although it definitely didn't originate with me. But it produces really successful logos! This RI one is interesting - feels a bit like they started by saying "we need a unique shape" and went from there. The bottom of the anchor reminds me heavily of the old Mutiny logo (not sure if that's intentional?). In general it's tricky to use a nautical motif in a way that isn't overly traditional - and this tries, which I give it credit for. Still something a little off though, maybe one more round of revision and/or a tweak of that holding shield shape.

 

[Titans Bastard]

MLS Next Pro — a true laboratory for weird rule changes.

View: https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1635717816346083336

 

[InstaFace]

my god, a rule against time-wasting? What's next, rules against aggressively crowding the ref to yell at him?

 

[biollante]

I would appreciate any rules about crowding the ref , really has become annoying to watch just as much as VAR.

 

[Zososoxfan]

I'm considering going to the Tampa Bay Strikers of the National Indoor Soccer League (NISL) this weekend against the Fayetteville Fury. They have a cool setup where each franchise (club?) has a mens and womens team, and at least in Tampa one ticket gets you into both games.

I don't think the level is particularly high (our best and youngest pub league player got asked to play for the men and another teammate plays with some of the women on a coed pub league team) but the venue does have a bar!

Martin Grammatica and his brother are the coaches for Tampa.

I'd pay for Ray Hudson's seat next to me to do PBP.

 

[steeplechase3k]

I'm going to include NWSL stuff here, I htink it makes more sense that the generic Women's Soccer thread.

Portland Thorns GK, Bella Bixby became the second NWSL GK to score a goal, and the second Thorn.
View: https://twitter.com/NWSL/status/1652532327405457408

 

[Senator Donut]

The MLSPA has indicated that U.S. Open Cup participation may be something they bring to the bargaining table in the next CBA. Now that MLS and the USSF have starting selling their television rights separately, MLS has little incentive in the success of the tournament.

The following is from an Athletic interview with MLSPA Executive Director Bob Foose:

In May, MLS commissioner Don Garber made comments about the U.S. Open Cup and how “they are not games that we would want our product to be shown to a large audience.” Simultaneously, we’re approaching the new Leagues Cup. How does the change in competition and priorities impact the players?

I think we as players, it’s in our interests to be as focused as possible with the league on how we continue to grow MLS. That’s in our interest as much as it is the owners, so we are very much aligned on that. Leagues Cup, we’re gonna have to see. It’s a new, very bold concept. We are supportive of the efforts to see how it goes. We want to improve the quality of play as much as we can. We share that goal,and our rivalry with Mexican clubs has really ramped up and become a bit more two-sided in the last couple of years. I think that’s a very good thing.

You know, something’s got to give on player workload all over the world, and we are no different here. The calendar has gotten very congested and we’re, as an industry, going to have to make some choices. We haven’t taken a formal MLSPA position on the U.S. Open Cup. I will say my personal opinion is that it’s not at the level that our players should be playing at. At this point, the venues aren’t there; the facilities aren’t there. The structure of the tournament isn’t contributing to making MLS a better league, and I think it’s something that ought to be pondered.

I think our players’ workload is going to be an increasing issue moving forward, and certainly something we think will be a big issue in our next round of negotiations. I think they’re, in certain circumstances, playing too many games, and I think that’s only going to increase as time goes on. I know the league has worked a lot with the federation and tried to be respectful of what they’re trying to do, but I can tell you that the U.S. Open Cup is certainly not something that our players look forward to.

https://theathletic.com/4621508/2023/06/19/hany-mukhtar-jim-curtin-mls/​

 

[InstaFace]

I'd enjoy if MLS entrants to the competition were a combination of (A) players purely on a voluntary basis, i.e. they can choose to sit it out under the CBA, and (B) reserve team / youth team participation (yes I know a lot of MLS B-teams already join in at earlier rounds). The run we had this year with the USL-C's Birmingham and Pittsburgh making it to the QFs would be replicated more frequently.

But it would certainly lose something. What has led Big 5 clubs to continue their participation in the FA Cup, Copa del Rey, Coupe de France, DFB-Pokal and Coppa Italia? They don't get much money from it. Is it just that you have a fighting chance to win a trophy if you're not a top club in the league with their huge money advantage? Tradition?

 

[Senator Donut]

Hartford Athletic fired @Titans Bastard's favorite punching bag Tab Ramos today. Apparently he was still playing people wildly out of position according to some of the more astute USL watchers. I still shudder to think about how seriously USSF considered him for the UMSNT head job.

View: https://twitter.com/USLTactics/status/1673414018415882253

 

[nayrbrey]

USL to vote on Promotion and Relegation

https://theathletic.com/4684339/2023/07/11/usl-promotion-relegation-system/?source=user_shared_article

While the specifics of the plan are still up for deliberation before being finalized, the league is exploring creating an additional tier between the Championship and League One’s current standing; expansion teams may step into this new middle tier pending payment of fees greater than those necessary for entry into League One. One source said the current asking fee for entry into League One is around $5 million.

 

[Senator Donut]

Be on the lookout for counterfeit soccer

View: https://twitter.com/uslleaguetwo/status/1692666378057121949

 

[InstaFace]

Imagine USL League Two being prominent enough and legitimate enough of a brand for someone to want to knock it off like a Bulgari watch or something. Shit you could buy a team in the league for the cost of a nicer Bulgari watch.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Portland is getting a USL League One team. It will launch in 2025.

The team will use Fitzpatrick Field as its home turf, next door to the Portland Sea Dogs’ Hadlock Field and the Maine Celtics’ Portland Expo Building. USL to Portland has committed to privately funding needed renovations at Fitzpatrick Field, such as improved locker room space and an upgraded press box.

Tom Caron getting in on the action:

The ownership group also includes NESN’s Tom Caron, a Lewiston native, as well as Jonathan and Catherine Culley of Portland’s Redfern Properties.

 

[Titans Bastard]

View: https://twitter.com/jeffrueter/status/1718005070992650431

 

[nayrbrey]

Nm

 

[Titans Bastard]

Portland, which is getting a USL League One team, announced their name and logo today.

I like the name and logo; it fits the local area, and it isn't another lame & unimaginative "FC".

View: https://twitter.com/hearts_sc/status/1784239972771348604

 

[Titans Bastard]

Rhode Island FC's stadium in Pawtucket is progressing.

View: https://twitter.com/RhodeIslandFC/status/1812868419798098086

 

[Titans Bastard]

Here are some membership updates for the lower divisions for 2025. Lower division soccer in the US has always been a bit ephemeral with a high level of turnover, but I think it's good to have more professional opportunities for players and coaches and to have some level of pro soccer in more communities. USL League One in particularly seems to be exploring how small of a market they can go to and still be viable — e.g. Statesboro, GA, Lancaster, CA, Sherman, TX.

USL Championship

Memphis 901 FC has folded after they were unable to progress on their stadium deal. Their rights have been transferred to an organization called Santa Barbara Sky FC, which is scheduled to begin play in 2026.

New for 2025 will be Lexington SC, which began play in USL League One in 2023 and is making the move to the second division.

There are quite a few announced/planned teams for 2026 and beyond, but history tells us that it's not official until they actually get on the field. But supposedly the USL is trying to add teams in Santa Barbara, Buffalo, Jacksonville, Milwaukee, Brooklyn, and NW Arkansas for 2026.

USL League One

The league actually kicked out Northern Colorado Hailstorm at the end of the season, and came to a decision to "mutually part ways" with Central Valley Fuego, who will probably fold. Also Lexington SC left to move up a division.

However, the league is adding five new teams:

• AV Alta FC [Antelope Valley; Lancaster, CA]
• FC Naples [FL]
• Portland Hearts of Pine FC [ME]
• Texoma FC [Sherman, TX]
• Westchester FC [Mount Vernon, NY]

This brings the league to 14 teams, which is as large as it has ever been. They have announced future teams in Corpus Christi, Eugene, and Boise, but like with all lower division teams it's only real when the team gets on the field.

MLS Next Pro

No changes for 2025. There's only two independent teams among all the MLS reserve squads, but theoretically at least three new independents will join in 2026 (Bridgeport, Jacksonville, Cleveland). We've already seen some competition from this league and USL League One for new markets and that will likely continue.

Regardless, MLSNP has a clear developmental focus that the USL leagues largely lack, although there are a handful of USL clubs with a reasonably built-out developmental pipeline. MLS clubs usually sign ~10 players to MLS Next Pro contracts and fill out the rest of the roster with players loaned down from the first team and amateur academy kids getting a new challenge.

 

[Titans Bastard]

I just watched Vermont(?!?!?!) win the NCAA title.

They've got great jerseys.